August 28, 2006

"Community Forums" mea culpa

We stand corrected. Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn attorney Jeff Baker informed us that the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), by law, must hold the public comment period open after a "public hearing" for 10 days, not 30 as we had earlier reported.

Since the next "community forum" is to be held on the 12th of September (ten days before the September 22nd close of the public comment period), it's a total mystery why the ESDC is intent on not calling it a "hearing." However, the September 18th "community forum" wouldn't satisfy that rule.

So we ask again: what's the difference between a "community forum" and a "public hearing," and why is the distinction so important if comments made at both will become part of the public record?

We'll bet the house that the ESDC and Forest City Ratner know the answer. The community, however, will have to wait for a reply to a Freedom of Information request.